by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Voters in the Tolleson Union High School District decisively rejected two funding measures last week, signaling a sharp reversal from past election outcomes and raising new questions about public trust in district leadership.
Both a proposed bond and budget override failed by wide margins, marking what state leaders are calling a significant shift in community sentiment. According to Arizona State Representative Matt Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee and co-chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the margin represents an estimated 40-point swing from the district’s last round of voter-approved measures.
“That kind of reversal doesn’t happen by chance,” Gress said in a statement. “It reflects taxpayers’ deep concern over how their money is being managed and the direction of district leadership.”
The vote comes as the district faces ongoing scrutiny from lawmakers over financial transparency. Gress first requested detailed financial transaction data from Tolleson Union on August 26 following a legislative audit hearing. The district declined to provide electronic records and instead issued an estimate exceeding $26,000 to fulfill the request. A follow-up clarification was sent on September 17, and as of last week the district had not complied.
Gress said the lack of cooperation has only fueled public skepticism. He pointed to delayed responses to official requests and continued planning for an $80 million domed stadium as examples of misplaced priorities, particularly as some governing board members face an active recall effort.
“When a school district refuses to provide basic financial records to the Legislature … public trust deteriorates quickly,” he said. “The Tolleson Union Governing Board should halt any further work on the stadium until transparency is restored and confidence is rebuilt.”
Supporters of the failed measures argued the additional funding was needed to maintain educational programs, address facility needs, and manage enrollment growth. But Tuesday’s results underscore a shifting climate in which voters appear more reluctant to approve additional spending without stronger fiscal assurances.
“The people of Tolleson have made their position clear: accountability must come before new spending,” Gress said. He added that lawmakers will continue to press for the financial records needed to assess how taxpayer funds are being used. School districts often rely on bonds to finance major capital projects and budget overrides to supplement operational funding. The rejection of both measures could force Tolleson Union to adjust spending plans or scale back initiatives in the months ahead.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 10, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Martin Makary, to immediately withdraw or indefinitely suspend enforcement actions against desiccated thyroid medications.
This follows explosive allegations of misconduct by former Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Director George Tidmarsh.
Dr. Tidmarsh resigned on November 2, 2025, amid a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) investigation into claims that he abused his regulatory authority to target desiccated thyroid drugs—medications safely used by 1.5 million Americans for decades—in an effort to harm business rival, Kevin Tang.
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals filed a lawsuit the same day, alleging Tidmarsh used official FDA resources to “target multiple companies” linked with Tang, including a company where Tang serves as board chairman, American Laboratories, a key supplier of active ingredients for desiccated thyroid drugs.
The timeline raises serious concerns as Tidmarsh assumed leadership of CDER in July 2025, just one month before the FDA issued enforcement warnings against these very medications.
Reports indicate Tidmarsh was placed on administrative leave on November 1st, before resigning the following day.
In Congressman Hamadeh’s first letter, he raised alarms about the FDA’s actions, warning that restrictions could disrupt care for thousands of veterans and seniors in Arizona’s 8th District who rely on these treatments. Although Hamadeh’s office followed up many times, the FDA provided a very generic response to their inquiries.
Now, in a November 4th letter to Commissioner Makary, Congressman Hamadeh demanded immediate action, including:
- Suspension of all enforcement actions against desiccated thyroid drugs initiated on or after July 2025.
- A transparent public and congressional accounting of all regulatory decisions involving thyroid medications, including communications, conflicts of interest, and internal concerns about Dr. Tidmarsh.
- 180-day advance notice to Congress before any future enforcement, with scientific justification and patient impact assessments.
- Guaranteed uninterrupted access for the 1.5 million patients dependent on these medications.
- Substantive responses to his original August inquiries.
“It was clear to me, based on the feedback that I have received from countless constituents, that the FDA’s action against these medications was likely not science-based,” said Congressman Hamadeh. “Given our government’s reaction to COVID-19, it is not hard to imagine that bad actors in our government have personal agendas and no regard for science or our citizens.”
“The FDA’s primary mission should be ensuring drug safety and efficacy, not unnecessarily restricting access to medications with established track records of safety and effectiveness,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “The American people expect that FDA regulatory actions be grounded in science and patient safety, not personal scores or abuse of authority.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), a nonpartisan organization committed to enhancing national safety and security, has formally filed a complaint against Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
The complaint, written by CASA Director James Fitzpatrick, accuses Gallego of violating Senate ethics rules through comments that allegedly threaten physical violence against House Speaker Mike Johnson and falsely claim he is “protecting pedophiles.”
CASA’s complaint, addressed to Chairman James Lankford (R-OK) and Vice Chairman Chris Coons (D-DE), demands a thorough investigation and appropriate disciplinary measures.
The organization argues that Gallego’s statements not only breach the Senate Ethics Manual’s standards for moral and ethical conduct but also risk inciting further political violence in an already volatile climate.
The ethics manual, which CASA is referring to, states, “The Senate of the United States is a responsible political body, important in the maintenance of our free institutions. Its members are expected to conduct themselves with a proper respect for the principles of ethics and morality, for senatorial customs based on tradition, and with due regard for the importance of maintaining the good reputation of the Senate as the highest legislative body in the Nation.”
The complaint traces back to a heated in-person exchange in the U.S. Capitol on October 8, 2025, between Gallego, a former U.S. Marine, and Speaker Johnson.
The following day, October 9, Gallego amplified the incident via an Instagram post captioned, “Mike Johnson doesn’t know that’s not why Marines fold their arms.” In the video, Gallego remarked, “And he should be happy I had my arms folded. There’s a reason why Marines fold their arms. It’s because it’s a way to make sure that we restrain ourselves.”
CASA interprets this as an implied threat of physical assault, emphasizing Gallego’s military background as a factor heightening its significance.
“Given Gallego’s military training as a Marine, he has the physical capabilities to inflict serious bodily harm,” mentioned CASA in the complaint. “Any threat whatsoever to any federal official should be taken seriously. But Gallego threatened the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is second in line to be President and a key official for continuity of the American government.”
Intensifying the issue, Gallego joined fellow lawmakers for a press conference outside the Capitol on October 15, 2025, where CASA called the accusations against Johnson false.
“Speaker Johnson is protecting pedophiles; that is what this is all about,” declared Gallego. “The only reason Adelita Grijalva is not being sworn in right now is because he wants to protect whatever is in those files and all the pedophiles that would be revealed, and he wants to make sure every day that doesn’t happen. He has one more day to protect all those pedophiles, whether it’s involving Donald Trump or any of his rich elite friends.”
Fitzpatrick’s letter brands this as “defamation per se,” asserting that Gallego “knows this statement is false and he is acting with malice and reckless disregard for the truth in stating it.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Andy Biggs continues to hold a dominant polling position in Arizona’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary, maintaining the same lead he’s had since September when he also polled ahead of Karrin Taylor Robson by 24 points.
The latest poll, conducted October 26–28 among 397 likely GOP primary voters, shows Biggs at 43 percent with Karrin Taylor Robson at 19 percent and David Schweikert at 2 percent. Another 35 percent remain undecided. The mixed-mode survey, which carries a ±4.9 percent margin of error, was conducted by the Phoenix-based research firm GrayHouse Research & Analysis.
Biggs, a five-term congressman representing Arizona’s 5th District and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has led every early-cycle measure of the prospective Republican field. His advantage reflects both high name recognition and continued grassroots strength among conservative voters focused on border security, spending restraint, and state sovereignty.
The poll underscores a steady pattern: Biggs’ lead hasn’t wavered despite increased visibility from Robson, who finished second in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, or speculation that Schweikert could consolidate the party’s establishment wing. With one-third of the electorate still uncommitted, the numbers suggest Biggs enters 2026 as the de facto frontrunner. As reported by AZ Free News, Biggs polled at 55% against Robson’s 31%, with 14% of voters undecided in a September poll from Pulse Decision Science. He also polled at 48.6% against Robson’s 26% in a June poll by NextGen Polling, barely edging out “Other” and “Undecided” with a combined 25.5%.
Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer shared the results in a post to X, remarking “Latest Arizona Poll out on @politico’s website shows @andybiggs4az up 24 points on Karrin Robson. This is consistent with every poll to date. Republicans need to get behind Biggs for Governor and prepare the resources now to win next year.”
In a similar sentiment, Richard Baris of Big Data Poll, Chairman of the National Association of Independent Pollsters and host of ‘Inside the Numbers’ commented, “Yep, Biggs has a significant lead. It’s not particularly close. Would be a waste of money to even challenge him. But nobody ever accused GOP donors of being smart, so…”
GrayHouse’s data, drawn from its statewide voter panel and Arizona voter file, also provided a detailed look at the primary electorate.
In the attorney general primary, Senate President Warren Petersen started at 16% and former Tucson City Council member Rodney Glassman at 8%, with 76% undecided. After biographical information, Petersen rose to 48% and Glassman to 15%, with 37% undecided.
The poll also measured voter sentiment on state direction: 52% said Arizona is on the wrong track, 25% on the right track, and 22% did not know. For re-electing Gov. Katie Hobbs, 43% supported it, 48% preferred someone new, and 9% were undecided. Including Independents and Democrats, the poll surveyed 744 registered voters with a margin of error +/- 3.6%.
Arizona’s top issues ranked were affordability and cost of living at 29%, threats to democracy at 17%, and border security and immigration at 16%, followed by jobs and the economy at 9%, education and healthcare both at 7%, with crime/public safety and water both at 6%. Climate change and the environment came in at 3%, and abortion barely registered at 1%.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Scottsdale City Council voted Monday to authorize Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella to ready counterclaims and other filings in its escalating court fight with Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE), the residents’ group challenging the state’s controversial “Axon Bill,” SB1543.
The authorization was granted in the event that the court upheld its original November 7th filing deadline in the case. However, the court subsequently granted an extension motion, according to Holly Peralta, Public Affairs Supervisor for the City of Scottsdale. Under the extended deadline of November 21st, the city council “will consider whether to bring forth such claims at its next regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.”
Former Scottsdale City Councilmember Bob Littlefield posted about the meeting on Monday morning, writing in part, “One of the items on tonight’s City Council agenda is the issue of whether or not the City will join my TAAAZE lawsuit against the ‘Axon Bill’ which cancels the right of referendum for Scottsdale citizens.”
Littlefield was critical of Mayor Lisa Borowsky, alleging that while supporting the suit, she has chosen not to take action.
He wrote, “This same question has been on the City Council agenda several times over the last few months, and the outcome has always been the same; Councilmembers Littlefield, Graham and Dubaskas have supported the idea while Councilmembers Whitehead, Kwasman and McAllen oppose it. That always leaves Mayor Borowsky as the swing vote. Lisa has repeatedly expressed support for the city joining the TAAAZE lawsuit against the Axon bill, yet every time it comes to a vote, she either votes against it or delays the vote, so no action is taken!”
Littlefield told AZFamily on Monday, “She wants to appear resident-friendly by saying she supports the lawsuit, but when it comes to push and shove, she votes in Axon’s interest by saying no.”
Borowsky responded, telling the outlet that she would prefer Axon keep its headquarters in Scottsdale. “Unlike former City Councilman Bob Littlefield, I want Axon to stay in Scottsdale,” she said. “Had Mr. Littlefield and his supporters not delayed the election until November 2026, Axon would not have gone to the Arizona Legislature, and we would not be in the legal predicament we are in today.”
She added, “Mr. Littlefield’s referendum was funded by an out-of-state labor union, which paid for 25,000 of the 27,000 signatures gathered. The 1,900 apartments at the Axon campus were hastily approved by the Lame Duck City Council on their way out the door. Let me be clear, I don’t support 1,900 apartments on that site. It is an outrage the Arizona Legislature passed a law to circumvent our control over zoning.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the Mayor held a town hall meeting in an open Q&A format to address citizens’ concerns in the ongoing controversy surrounding Axon’s headquarters expansion. During the town hall, the Mayor similarly called out former Councilmember Littlefield, saying, “I would have preferred to have this election much earlier, like May 2025 … the reason I pushed so hard to have an earlier election is because I believe the people should speak on this.”
Littlefield was unmoved, however, and told the Daily Independent, “For months, she’s told residents she backs our effort, but when it matters most, she blocks it. Her go to excuse? ‘Questions about the bill.’”
“Lisa, the bill passed six months ago,” he continued. “You’re a lawyer. You’ve had ample time to read it and get answers.”
Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1543 into law in April, severely curtailing municipalities’ ability to refer zoning matters to a public ballot. The law retroactively nullified the TAAAZE referendum and earned a sharp rebuke from Borowsky and the council, who told the Governor the law “undermines the principles of local control that are foundational to Scottsdale’s governance” and “sets a dangerous precedent.”
As of this report, the council is expected to vote on whether to take legal action in the case during its Monday, November 17th meeting.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Nov 8, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari is continuing to dedicate her limited constituent-services capacity during the shutdown to illegal immigrants.
Ansari maintains these individuals qualify as constituents, though they aren’t voting members of the district.
The congresswoman says one of the detained immigrants she visited, Arbella “Yari” Rodriguez Marquez, counts as a constituent because she had a green card until recently. Marquez’s case has been picked up by the media due to her alleged ongoing cancer battle.
Green card holders cannot vote.
Immigration enforcement spokespersons announced over the summer, following heightened media attention, that Marquez doesn’t have cancer and that medical professionals had assisted her over a dozen times since her detainment in February.
“[W]hen she was arrested by @CBP for attempting to smuggle an illegal alien with fraudulent identification in her vehicle through the Nogales, Arizona port of entry, she told law enforcement she had no medical conditions and was not taking any medications,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Marquez claims to have chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
In her last visit with Marquez, which lasted hours, Ansari revealed Marquez was allegedly visited by an oncologist on Oct. 8 but has not yet received the results or treatment plan from that visit. According to Ansari, the records from that visit will be delivered within the next two weeks.
Ansari did acknowledge the officials’ claim that Marquez doesn’t have cancer.
“Quite frankly, a lot of questioning, a lot of character assassination of Yari, the woman that was there with us insinuated there may be some doubt about her cancer from doctors and so they want her medical records from Mexico and from here,” said Ansari.
Officials also clarified that Marquez lost her green card and was detained for removal proceedings based on charges of human smuggling.
The congresswoman devoted the remainder of her time to pointing the finger at Republican leadership.
Ansari set up a table in front of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. A handmade sign taped to the tablefront read: “Mike Johnson is starving families and gutting healthcare to cover up the Epstein files; change my mind.”
This claim of an Epstein files coverup is the Democrats’ latest talking point to pressure Republicans to agree to their terms for ending the government shutdown.
Ansari later claimed she was asked to vacate her makeshift post outside Johnson’s office.
The government shutdown has now lasted nearly 40 days. It broke the historical record for the longest shutdown officially on Wednesday. The December 2018 to January 2019 shutdown lasted 35 days. The third-longest shutdown occurred under President Bill Clinton from December 1995 to January 1996, 21 days.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated on Wednesday to reporters that they have nearly closed on a bipartisan “mini-package” deal for stopgap funding that would pay the select federal agencies necessary to end the shutdown.
Anonymized leaks to the press said a Friday vote would occur. Allegedly, Thune told fellow Republicans the Senate would take the necessary steps to end the shutdown on Friday, according to anonymous sources who spoke to Politico.
However, other source chatter indicated that Democrats felt more secure with prolonging a shutdown to negotiate stricter terms in their favor after the most recent election on Tuesday.
The shutdown’s impact to Arizona amounts to just under $300 million each week, or $1.3 billion per month. About 887,000 Arizonans rely on the SNAP benefits that dried up last week, 344,000 of whom are children. Around 58,000 federal workers in the state were furloughed or are working without pay.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
